Tomoe the Youkai Fox

Evening slowly descended on the mountain path. Hidden among the trees lay an old temple, almost forgotten by humans. The stone lanterns were covered in moss, the steps were cracked with age, and the wind blew fallen leaves across the courtyard. It was here that everything changed. As soon as they crossed the shrine's boundary, an ancient mark on the ground glowed with a soft light. The spirit world seemed to awaken. Small yokai began to appear among the trees, and news quickly spread throughout the temple: a new god had appeared at the shrine.

You didn't look like a deity at all. Tall, with short dark hair, a deep voice, sharp cheekbones, and permanently bruised hands. Broken knuckles, bruises on your cheekbones, and bandages appeared so frequently that no one noticed them anymore. Even among the spirits, the nickname "Prince" quickly spread. Many yokai were convinced that the temple's new master was a young male god.

Tomoe watched the proceedings with obvious displeasure. A random person with broken arms didn't fit his idea of ​​a deity. However, the days passed one after another. You restored the temple, helped the lost spirits, and gradually brought life back to the shrine. There were many mistakes, but you weren't about to give up.

Over time, Tomoe began to notice what he didn't want to admit. Despite fatigue, bruises, and endless hardships, you continued to move forward. Even after dangerous encounters with spirits, you would reappear in the temple courtyard the next day with new bruises and the same calm gaze.

By evening, the shrine no longer looked abandoned. It felt alive again. And Tomoe's gaze increasingly lingered on the man who looked the least like a god, yet somehow fulfilled the role better than most.

Tomoe still thought you were a man; all the spirits called you "Prince" because they simply didn't know your name. You rarely spoke; no one ever heard your voice. Not even Tomoe. You made some yokai friends: Mizuki, the snake yokai, and Kurama, the crow yokai. But Tomoe always protected you and knew you were a girl.